Going green & creative with by making your own Eco-friendly Christmas tree with your family.

Now, after lighting the FIRST CANDLE on our Advents Wreath and it is official:

CHRISTMAS IS COMING.

Only 4 more weeks til Christmas!

My boys are so excited about EVERYTHING this time of the year brings:

• Lighting the candles on the Advents Wreath.
• Opening a door on their Advent Calendar each day
• Readings Christmas stories,
• Making decorations for the Christmas tree,
• Making our Christmas tree,
• And baking some Christmas cookies!

 

Last week we had a friend over for a play date and even though it was a very hot day, everyone got right into it.

• Rolling out the dough,
• Finding the right Cookie Shapes,
• Cutting the cookies out of the dough and placing them on the baking tray,
• Decorating
• and of course, the best thing of all: Eating the cookies!

 

I prepared the dough the evening before, so it could sit over night in the fridge.

Here is the recipe for our Gingerbread Cookies:

• 175 g soft butter
• 200 g brown sugar
• 1/2 cup marble syrup
• 3/4 tsp ginger (freshly grated or ground dried powder)
• 3/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 200 ml? semi beaten cream
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 700 g spelt flour

 

• Mix all ingredients well and knead dough for 5 minutes.
• Cover the dough and put it in the fridge over night.
• Roll out dough and cut cookies out as desired.
• The thicker the dough is the juicier and fresh the cookies will stay.
• Preheat the oven to 200C.
• Bake for 10 minutes
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

A Tip: If you feel like you don't want to make so many cookies at once, just split

the dough in half and put one half in the freezer and make a second lot just before Christmas.

Enjoy!

Christmas - time for some family creativity!

This is my favourite time of the year.

Not because I am a very religious or traditional person, but because it is a time, when our home transforms into a little magical place, full of light, little elves & angels, the smell of Christmas cookies and advent greenery, as well as the anticipation of my children getting ready for Santa!

Especially my oldest son Enam just LOVES anything crafty that will brighten up our home and will make the Christmas Tree even more spectacular? than last year!

Given my background as a Master-Florist, I am more than happy to join in and support there creative joy and imagination to make this a special time. I am always trying to use as much natural materials as possible, that we can collect ourselves!

One more week to go until we light our first candle on the Advents Wreath!

Time to get into a little Advent Warm Up.

So I decided to collect some pine cones to give them a little Christmas Make Over. I bought 4 different wood colours, some brushes and got set up in the garden. Just after school for some pine-cone painting on a nice sunny afternoon.

This is still somewhat strange to me us my childhood memories of advent in Germany are quite different. In Germany the days in December are very short, cold & dark. Everything moves and happens inside.?? Now, here in Australia everything happens outside and my boys got right into painting there favourite colours onto there favourite pine cone.

That never goes as smooth or peaceful as I would like and there is always a fight over? colours, pine cones or brushes but it was still fun.

I cut a few hemp strings and tight them around the pine cones, which gave them a bit more of a vintage/rustic look but also helped to try the cones easier on our little native hedge, right next to us.

I find pine cones extremely versatile to use use and they always look like they were just made for Christmas :-)

 

 

But the most important thing of all is, that I get to spent some creative time with my children!

Its the size that makes the difference! 

Shopping has never been easier!

The world of Online-Shopping is just a mouse click away and available to you pretty much 24 hours a day. Whatever you need or desire, from gift ideas for baby showers, high quality organic kids clothes from Europe, comfortable shoes from Denmark or you just simply want to browse a little, it is all there for you. But with all the comforts and ease of online shopping, there are some downsides to it, especially when we look abroad for a purchase or wanting to buy an European Brand here in Australia.

Buying the right size clothes or shoes on the internet.

In many cases, online shoppers are concerned that the item of clothing or shoes that they're buying may not be the correct size that they need and will not fit. Therefore: Clothes conversion charts are a necessary tool for online shopping! Most labels featured on Elves in the Wardrobe all use a European sizing system, which is in centimeters according to the child's length. If you know how long your baby or child is you can easily work out the size. For instance; if your baby is 72cm long, a size 74 will be perfect as there will be room to grow as well. There are a few German Brands, like Leela Cotton, Loud + Proud  or Kissa which base their range on Double Sizes. 

 

I generally prefer these double sizes for my boys. For one, it is something that I have grown up with and it feels more familiar to me. But I also like the fact that your baby or child is able to wear there clothes for a longer period and get more out of it, rather than having to buy some new clothes every couple of month. Especially when your little One is having a growth spurt! Even for friends and family members, who are looking for a great gift but don't see the child every day and feel a unsure about the right size: Double Sizes are perfect as it leaves room for errors and it will still fit!   When we take a look our Scandinavien Brands: Ubang, Smafolk and Duns. Even though they keep it more simple and offering one size clothes, I personally found there sizes to be quite generous and leave room to grow into as well. Nonetheless: It is always good to read the product descriptions carefully as each label can vary slightly in design and you might find you need to go up or down one size to get the perfect fit. And if you still feel in doubt, just call or e-mail me. I am very happy to assist to get you the right size and avoid the hassle of returns & refund!  

Cm	56	62	68	74	80	86	92
Size	0000	000	000/00	00	0/1	1	2
Age	newborn	1-3 m	3-6 m	6-9 m	9-15?m	18 m	2
Cm	98	104	110	116	122	128	134/140?
Size	3	3/4	4/5	5/6	6/7	7/8	9/10
Age	3	3/4	4/5	5/6	6/7	7/8	?9/10

There is one downside to having an ONLINE SHOP for organic baby and kids clothing. You are not able to touch all these amazing outfits when you buy them. So have you ever FELT organic clothing, no I mean REALLY felt it? If you had felt organic clothing you would know what I am talking about and you would be sitting there nodding your head in agreement right now. And yes this post is going to be all about the softness of organic cotton clothing. So for starters, if you are out and about right now and have never felt organic cotton, quickly find your nearest store that sells organic clothing or come to my monthly Bellingen- and Yamba Markets and go feel some. You won't regret it I promise! They all feel fantastic but I do have to admit, I have a favourite brand in my shop when it comes down to the feel and snuggly-ness: Leela Cotton. I love just getting the organic clothing out of the boxes every time I am doing the markets: 

My boys have a mixture of clothing. It is either 100% Cotton Oeko-tex or Organic. On days like today when they are wearing there organic leggings and shirts, I seriously cannot get enough of cuddling them. And even my husbands with his carpenter hands agrees how nice everything feels. So why is organic cotton softer you ask? Cotton is known as one of the softest, most comfortable fabrics but unfortunately, it's also one of the most heavily chemically treated crops in the world. Those chemicals change the make-up of the cotton, penetrating and harming the fibers that make the fabric so soft. Organic cotton is cotton in its most pure form, using the raw fibers as they were intended by nature; this is why organic clothing is so much softer than non-organic cotton. Makes sense... Go: https://www.elves-in-the-wardrobe.com.au/ and shop organic clothing now! Get yourself some soft goodness and have some more snuggle time with your little ones.

Clothing

My upbringing wasn't exactly what you call environmentally conscious and yet as long as I can remember I was drawn to everything Organic.

I loved to go into Organic Food Stores. I just loved being surrounded by Organic Goodness.

For myself it was always about the feel, the smell, the aliveness and the energy.

There was no particular belief or a conscious lifestyle choice behind it but I always had a strong pull to the Organic side of life.

The creation of Elves in the Wardrobe led to a lot of research regarding the benefits of organic clothing.

Needless to say the choice to Go Organic was the only conscious decision to make.

My understanding & passion for Organic continues to grow. We must all educate ourselves as to the many toxins in clothing that have the potential to harm our family.

This is an excerpt out of an article from Gloria Gilbere, DAHom, PhD that I would like to share with you:
Focus on Health

• Today's clothing industry is a seven trillion dollar a year industry that uses an astounding 8,000 synthetic chemicals;
• Consumers have the mistaken illusion that synthetic fibers in clothing are safe;
• For over half a century people have been reacting negatively to chemicals interacting with their skin causing disorders like infertility, respiratory diseases, contact dermatitis and, yes, even cancer;
• The more synthetic clothing you wear, the greater your risk of absorbing toxic chemicals that can precipitate health conditions most often not attributed to synthetic fibers.

Key Points

• Your skin is the largest organ of elimination and absorption?what goes ON the skin goes IN the body;
• When toxins are absorbed through your skin, they are taken-up by the lymphatic system, then into the blood stream and eventually the liver?the chemical-processing plant of the body responsible for removing toxins;
• Your skin also keeps you healthy by actually venting approximately one pound of toxins daily;
• Petrochemical fibers restrict and suffocate your skin?shutting down toxic release rather than allowing it to escape?contributing to your total body burden and may be the trigger for the onset of disease;
• A toxic soup is created when combining multiple chemicals that interact to create an even more toxic substance and health consequences than individual chemicals by themselves.

Fabric may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about living a healthier lifestyle, but it definitely should be considered. Even many health nuts don't realize that synthetic fabrics are teaming with chemicals and dyes that cannot be washed out, making them a potential health hazard.

Most synthetic fabrics, from towels to dress shirts and bed linens, are treated with chemicals during and after processing. These chemicals not only leach into the environment, impacting groundwater, wildlife, air and soil, but they also may be absorbed or inhaled directly.

The use of man-made chemicals is increasing, and at the same time we have warning signals that a variety of wildlife and human health problems are becoming more prevalent, says Dr. Richard Dixon, Head of the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) Scotland. It is reckless to suggest there is no link between the two and give chemicals the benefit of the doubt. Urgent action is needed to replace hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives especially in clothing and other consumer products.

WWF is so concerned about one fairly new clothing additive that they advised parents to check their children's clothing labels. If the chemical is on it, they advise switching to clothing made from natural fibers whenever possible.

Teflon in Your Trousers
The chemicals that the WWF was warning about are perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), which include the non-stick additive Teflon. These chemicals are increasingly being added to clothing because it makes them last longer and also can make them wrinkle-free. Most clothing labeled no-iron contains PFCs.

I have written about and consulted with patients worldwide regarding their allergic responses from synthetic fibers, bedding, clothing, car interiors, exercise/athletic clothing, mattresses, hats, etc. that said, the frequency of recent incidents is very alarming to me and it should be to you. The allergic responses now commonly being reported as a result of these synthetic chemicals include, but are definitely not limited to:

• Skin rashes and lesions that can be cancerous
• Nausea
• Unexplained fatigue
• Burning and itching
• Unexplained headaches
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty breathing
• Reoccurring sinus infections not previously experienced
• Sudden inflammation and pain; especially in soft tissues

 

Keep in mind that if you have mysterious invisible illnesses that linger and yet you're told everything is within normal range, its time to look into whether the fibers your clothes and bedding are made of could be the problem; it is for many.

Recent Case History:
The following is a quote from a patient of mine who I have worked with via long-distance for years. Hopefully her experience will assist others when mysterious skin eruptions appear and to further make my point about the toxicity of chemicals used in synthetic fibers and coloring.

I wore a white cotton tank top with orange embroidery around the neck line. After a few hours the skin around the neck line was scratchy and bothersome so I removed the garment. I noticed small red irritation where the embroidery touched my skin but really thought very little of it as I assumed it would go away. After a few weeks the skin still appeared irritated so I started using my safe moisturizing lotion. When this had no affect I saw a dermatologist and explained the situation. He determined the skin was pre-cancerous and prescribed a cortisone ointment for the next five weeks. If the skin is not completely healed at the end of this time the doctor said we need to remove it. I questioned the dermatologist about how and why this happened and he informed me that skin irritations such as these can lead to cancer.

I have been very careful to wear only 100 percent cotton for years and soak/wash any new clothes four times (powdered milk soak, safe detergent, vinegar, baking soda) prior to use since I have been immune challenged for years.

I have noticed that even if I touch my fathers colored cotton/polyester blend shirts/socks that I feel an odd sensation in my fingertips. This does not persist but is a very strange feeling. I have similar experiences with the cloth grocery bags from health food stores that make me immediately put it down. It is not the exact feeling of a static shock but close. The dermatologist shared with me that he has seen this type of reaction from other patients that can only be attributed to toxic chemicals and dyes used in manufacturing.

Which Fabric Finishes Scream Toxic Chemicals?

1. Easy Care Wrinkle-free, shrinkage-free these garments release formaldehyde;
2. Water Repellent Fluoropolymers (as in Teflon) are used to repel oil and water;
3. Flame Retardants;
4. Bacterial and Fungicidal Chemicals Triclosan and nano-particles are used for these purposes, dangerous neurotoxins and irritants.

Fabrics containing Formaldehyde linked to a 30 percent increase in lung cancer, skin/lung irritation and contact dermatitis:

• Anti-cling, anti-static, anti-shrink
• Waterproof
• Perspiration-proof
• Moth-proof and mildew resistant
• Chlorine resistant

Its also used in dyes and printing to fix the design and prevent running. It is widely used in bedding so its best to use bedding that is all cotton and in light or white colors to eliminate risk from formaldehyde used to set colored fabrics.

You Need to Know

• Most governments restrict formaldehyde levels in clothing but NOT the U.S. One of the worst offenders is China. Beware of Made in China labels.
• Use of formaldehyde in clothing is extremely widespread. There have even been lawsuits alleging high levels of it in Victorias Secret bras.
• High temperatures and humidity make poison clothes even worse?they open your pores and increase chemical absorption.
• You absorb formaldehyde from multiple sources daily, so dont be fooled by manufacturers reassurances.
• Disperse Blue Dyes may look gorgeous even regal but they put you at high risk for contact dermatitis. . . especially dark blue, brown, and black synthetic clothing. Its important to note laundering does not reverse that risk.
• Worse. . . Disperse Blue # 1 is classified as a human carcinogen due to high malignant tumor levels in lab animals.
• Incidentally, you might be interested to know that this dye also shows up in cosmetics and semi-permanent hair dyes.

Fire and Burn Hazards
The U.S. Marine Corps now prohibits troops in Iraq from wearing synthetic clothing while off base . . . after too many unfortunate burns from soldiers wearing polyester, acrylic, and nylon which readily melts in high heat and fuses to the skin. (What did you expect? This stuff is a first cousin to plastic both products of the oil industry.)

Of course, that begs the question of whether flame retardants are safer. . .

Historical Perspective. . .
Flame Retardant use began in 1971, when government required childrens sleepwear to be self-extinguishing; their solution was to add Brominated Tris. Studies measuring urine samples showed that this chemical is readily absorbed.

Brominated Tris is a mutagen*, and causes cancer and sterility in animals and have also shown they cause testicular atrophy and sterility.
*Mutagens cause inheritable mutations by damaging DNA

Tris was banned in childrens clothing in 1977 (but lives on in upholstered furniture foam, baby carriers, and bassinets). Today most synthetic fabrics contain a new generation of flame retardants bonded into the fabric, which must survive 50+ washings.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions National Burn Center, only 36 children a year suffer serious injuries from sleepwear catching fire. My heart goes out to these tragic victims and their families. But is the toxic contamination of millions of children worth protecting 36 children per year from burns?

The Way I See It. . . 
This sort of regulation is a product of the precautionary principle the notion that there should be no limit to the amount of money spent or the amount of inconvenience inflicted on millions of people when it comes to preventing rare dangers that affect a tiny number of people. The mania for making our society risk-proof and accident-proof actually increases danger in many cases.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission exempts certain sleepwear from flammability standards. Two companies selling kids sleepwear without flame retardants are L.L.Bean and Lands End.

But its not just childrens sleepwear demand is high for fire-retardant uniforms and civilian clothing.

Lab studies show that flame retardants (PBDEs) can cause a slew of health issues thyroid problems, brain damage, ADHD symptoms, fertility problems and even cancer.

The insecticide permethrin is now in civilian outdoor wear and military uniforms even though no long-term studies have assessed its safety.

Focus on Health

• Scientists find that restrictive bras suppress the lymphatic system needed to flush toxins from your breasts and lymph nodes and to help prevent breast cancer;
• Despite wide appeal of synthetic athletic apparel, medical studies show that synthetic fibers cause muscle fatigue which can make the difference between winning and losing for competitive athletes;
• A study of 24-27-year-old-males, showed that natural linen long sleeved shirts were worn for five hours and then polyester ones were worn for another five hours. Their arms were monitored during both with electrodes measuring skin temperature and velocity of the men's muscle tissue. No changes were measurable when they wore linen. However, when they donned polyester they endured a range of muscle disruptions.

Key Points

• While individual chemicals might not endanger your health, the synergistic effect of multiple chemicals (a toxic soup) interacting can have unpredictable negative health effects;
• Choose natural fibers. While not always as easy to find, its best to do so when possible:

Cotton preferably organic still remains the king of textiles. Organic accounts for less than one percent of worldwide production;
Flax one of natures strongest fibers;
Hemp grows without any need for fungicides, herbicides, or pesticides because its naturally insect-resistant. Its fibers are reported to be four times stronger than cotton. This is NOT the hemp known for its mind-altering properties;
Silk known as the queen of fabrics. Watch out for the use of synthetic dyes in this fiber.
Wool most of todays wool is contaminated with chemicals, i.e., pesticides used to kill parasites. But organic wool is becoming more common.
Other alpaca, angora, camel, cashmere, mohair, ramie, aluyot.

You Need to Know
The Organic Trade Association estimates that one non-organic cotton T-shirt uses one-third pound of pesticides and fertilizers. Cotton production uses one-fourth of the entire worlds fertilizers. Its another good reason to choose organic cotton to add to the ones above.

Dont get over-whelmed, start small. Choose organic for clothing closet to your skin most of the time underwear, sleepwear, camisoles, sheets/pillow cases, etc. Build on your organic wardrobe as you replace items.